Game 26 Recap: Giants 6, Cubs 2

For about 2 innings after the Cubs scratched out a second run against Tim Lincecum in the 5th inning, it looked like the Cubs pupu platter of a lineup looked like it might pull off the highly unlikely, if not impossible, and take down the San Francisco Giants. They pulled to within 3-2 with a 2 out RBI from none other than Sean Marshall and with Marshall cruising and Lincecum’s pitch count rising, I thought they might pull it out when they got to the Giants’ bullpen.

Then the Giants scored 3 more runs in the 8th against Marshall and Jeff Samardzija and that was that, because Lou Piniella’s lineup was NOT going to be putting together any big innings. Seriously, look at the epic awfulness that the Cubs trotted out there today:

CF Joey Gathright – Good speed/defense, but a .262 lifetime average
SS Aaron Miles – Possibly the worst number 2 hitter in Cubs history
RF Kosuke Fukudome – Not a 3 hitter
1B Derrek Lee – Bat gets slower every day
LF Micah Hoffpauir – Solid bat but only 110 career AB’s
3B Mike Fontenot – Not a 3B
2B Bobby Scales – MLB debut at 31
C Koyie Hill – Backup catcher
P Sean Marshall – Have you ever watched him swing?

Lou Piniella gave the Cubs arguably best two hitters and two most dangerous bats the day off: Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Theriot, Milton Bradley, and Alfonso Soriano. I understand that Theriot and Soriano have played every day for a month and that Ramirez and Bradley are on the way back from injury, but can’t we stagger days off? Was Sweet Lou conceding defeat to the reigning Cy Young winner? I hope the rest was beneficial as the Cubs head to Houston, because that lineup was incapable of anything more than small ball, resorting to using Aaron Miles speed on the basepaths and hits by the pitcher to try to score.

On that note, I’ll spare you any more ranting on that lineup, let’s talk about the Cubs pitching. Outside of a three run jack by Bengie Molina after a bunt single and a ground ball single and a walk and single to start the 8th inning, Sean Marshall was very solid. He threw strikes, got outs early in counts, and used his curveball extensively. He allowed his share of baserunners, but never got in any significant trouble.

Unfortunately, his line did not reflect that. He allowed 5 runs, all earned, 2 of which scored on an Aaron Rowand double allowed by Jeff Samardzija. Presumably, Samardzija got the call in a jam in the 8th because Piniella did not want to throw Carlos Marmol for the third day in a row. Marmol was best served to get out of that jam, and even though the Cubs did not have a lead, the game was on the line. A 1 run deficit was manageable, anything more not so much.

I’ve had just about enough talking about that performance, so let’s just look forward to the Iowa Chicago Cubs upcoming series with in the Lone Star state…I’ll be along with the preview tomorrow afternoon.